7.15.2008

The Benefits of a Uniform (Or Justification for a Rut…Depending on How You Chose to Look at it)

While Audrey may possess some of Punky B's sartorial prowess, I sadly...do not. No, when it comes to clothes, I have a tendency to find something I love (whether it's a particular item of clothing or a "look") and then latch onto it with quite an intense fervor. I can't help it; I'm a loyal gal... (Or perhaps I'm just boring or lazy.) Luckily my mother is around to remind me of these fashion "crutches", like the phase I went through in college when I wore the same pair of black pants -- every. single. day.

Fast forward to present day, and you'll find my mother teasing me over my current fixation -- wearing a "dress" over jeans. Lest you think I'm parading around in a mid-calf skimming frock over my jeans, you could also consider it "tunic" over jeans.

The roots of the obsession are two-fold: First there's the issue of scandalously short scraps of fabric masquerading as dresses (I'm a mom, in my 30's, and I unfortunately don't possess Gwyneth's legs, so I have to have some limits here people.) Then there was the serendipitous side-effect of an otherwise scarring shopping trip with Audrey where I was in such a rush to get out Barneys that I tried on a Vena Cava dress over my jeans and was instantly hooked.

The look that started it all...

But no matter what's behind my motivation for repetition, an unintended (but welcome) side-effect is the simplicity factor -- the non-thinking aspect of having a uniform to rely on trumps all that ribbing from my mom...almost.

i love posts like this. there's something about the pictures, the honesty, the everydayness (and i mean that in respect, because i love the everyday)that just makes me smile... sort of makes me giddy about the blog world.

Seriously, it started with an embroidered toile bathing suit coverup from H&M in 2002, and I have never looked back. Like you, the dresses are TOO SHORT and it was a great solution to being covered while being surrounded by teenage boys at work (high school teacher.)

I like to call it my "signature look" though I have been known to call it a uniform. Embrace the fact that you what suits you! Hurrah!

I think it looks great...but then again I grew up in the 60's and 70's and when we WERE able to wear pants to school it had to be PANTSUITS. Think matching pants with a dress, but NOT jeans. So you have taken the idea to fun and functional. JeansSuits. or something. Looks cute! I bet you can find some cool stuff at thrift stores! plus you have great long legs!